Former India opener Chetan Chauhan, who was on life support due to multiple organ failure, passed away on Sunday (August 16). He was 73. Chauhan had tested positive for Covid-19 in July, and his health worsened yesterday due to which he had to be on a ventilator at a local hospital in Gurugram, where he breathed his last.
“Early morning today, Chetan ji had a kidney failure and subsequently, had multi-organ failure. He is currently on life support. We are all praying that he wins this battle,” a senior DDCA official, who is keeping track of the development, had told PTI on Saturday.
Considered one of the courageous batsmen of Indian cricket, Chauhan featured in 40 Test matches and seven ODIs. He will, however, be remembered as Sunil Gavaskar’s partner in numerous Tests in the 1970s and early 1980s. Chauhan and Gavaskar scored over 3,000 runs together with 10 century stands in Tests.
In his long and illustrious career, Chauhan scored 2,084 Test runs at an average of 31.57 with 97 being his highest score.
After quitting the game, Chauhan served the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) in various capacities — president, vice-president, secretary and chief selector — apart from being manager of the Indian Team during its tour of Australia in 2001. He was a Lok Sabha MP twice.
Chauhan held the portfolios of Sainik Welfare, Home Guards, PRD and Civil Security in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet. Till last year, he served as the sports minister of the state.
